A fisherman discovers a chest at sea, releasing a mischievous monkey named Si Mahomet. The monkey orchestrates events leading to the fisherman marrying a princess under the guise of being the son of the Sultan of India. After elaborate deceptions, they secure a kingdom. Si Mahomet later sacrifices himself to save them, leaving the couple to rule peacefully. This tale highlights cleverness and destiny intertwined.
Source
Moorish Literature
romantic ballads, tales of the Berbers,
stories of the Kabyles, folk-lore,
and national traditions
The Colonial Press,
London, New York, 1901
► Themes of the story
Cunning and Deception: The narrative revolves around elaborate deceptions orchestrated by the monkey to elevate the fisherman’s status.
Divine Intervention: The unexpected appearance and assistance of the monkey can be interpreted as a form of supernatural aid influencing mortal affairs.
Sacrifice: Si Mahomet ultimately sacrifices himself to ensure the fisherman’s success and happiness.
► From the same Region or People
Learn more about the Berber peoples
Translated by J. Rivière
and Chauncey C. Starkweather
A fisherman went one day to the sea to catch some fish. In the evening he sold his catch, and bought a little loaf of bread, on which he made his supper. The next day he returned to his fishing and found a chest. He took it to his house and opened it. Out jumped a monkey and said to him: “Bad luck to you. I am not the only one to conquer. You may bewail your sad lot.”
“My lot is unbearable,” he answered. The next day he returned to his fishing. The monkey climbed to the roof of the house and sat there. A moment afterward he cut all the roses of the garden. The daughter of the King saw him, and said to him:
“O Sidi Mahomet, what are you doing there? Come here, I need you.”
► Continue reading…
He took a rose and approached.
“Where do you live?” asked the princess.
“With the son of the Sultan of India,” answered the monkey.
“Tell him to buy me.”
“I will tell him, provided he will accept.”
The next day he stayed in the house and tore his face. The princess called him again. The monkey brought her a rose.
“Who put you in that condition?” she cried.
“It was the son of the Sultan of India,” answered the monkey. “When I told him to buy you he gave me a blow.”
The princess gave him 100 ecus, and he went away. The next day he scratched his face worse and climbed on the house. The daughter of the King called him:
“Sidi Mahomet!”
“Well?”
“Come here. What did you say to him?”
“I told him to buy you, and he gave me another blow.”
“Since this is so, come and find me to-morrow.”
The next day the monkey took the fisherman to a shop and bought him some clothes. He took him to the baths and made him bathe. Then he went along the road and cried:
“Flee, flee, here is the son of the Sultan of India!”
They went into a coffee-house, and Si Mahomet ordered two coffees. They drank their coffees, gave an ecu to the proprietor, and went out. While going toward the palace Si Mahomet said to-the fisherman:
“Here we are at the house of your father-in-law. When he serves us to eat, eat little. When he offers us coffee, drink only a little of it. You will find silken rugs stretched on the floor; keep on your sandals.”
When they arrived the fisherman took off his sandals. The King offered them something to eat; the fisherman ate a great deal. He offered them some coffee, and the fisherman did not leave a drop of it. They went out. When they were outside the palace Si Mahomet said to the fisherman:
“Jew of a fisherman, you are lucky that I do not scratch your face.”
They returned to their house. Si Mahomet climbed upon the roof. The daughter of the King perceived him, and said:
“Come here.”
The monkey approached.
“Truly you have lied. Why did you tell me that the son of the Sultan of India was a distinguished person?”
“Is he a worthless fellow?”
“We furnished the room with silken rugs, he took off his sandals. We gave him food, and he ate like a servant. We offered him some coffee, and he licked his fingers.”
The monkey answered: “We had just come out of the coffeehouse. He had taken too much wine and was drunken, and not master of himself. That is why he ate so much.”
“Well,” replied the princess, “come to the palace again tomorrow, but do not take him to the coffee-house first.”
The next day they set out. On the way the monkey said to the fisherman: “Jew of a fisherman, if to-day you take off your sandals or eat too much or drink all your coffee, look out for yourself. Drink a little only, or I will scratch your eyes out.”
They arrived at the palace. The fisherman walked on the silken rugs with his sandals. They gave him something to eat, and he ate little. They brought him some coffee, and he hardly tasted it. The King gave him his daughter. Si Mahomet said to the King:
“The son of the Sultan of India has quarrelled with his father, so he only brought one chest of silver.”
In the evening the monkey and the fisherman went out for a walk. The fisherman said to Si Mahomet:
“Is it here that we are going to find the son of the Sultan of India?”
“I can show him to you easily,” answered the monkey. “Tomorrow I will find you seated. I will approach, weeping, with a paper in my hands; I will give you the paper, and you must read it and burst into tears. Your father-in-law will ask you why you weep so. Answer him: ‘My father is dead. Here is the letter I have just received. If you have finally determined to give me your daughter, I will take her away and we will go to pay the last duties to my father.'”
“Take her,” said the King. He gave him an escort of horsemen and soldiers. Arriving at the place, Si Mahomet said to the soldiers:
“You may return to the palace, for our country is far from here.”
The escort went back to the palace, and the travellers continued on their journey. Soon Si Mahomet said to the fisherman: “Stay here till I go and look at the country of your father.” He started, and arrived at the gates of a city he found closed he mounted upon the ramparts. An ogress perceived him, “I salute you, Si Mahomet.”
“May God curse you, sorceress! Come, I am going to your house.”
“What do you want of me, Si Mahomet?”
“They are seeking to kill you.”
“Where can I hide?” He put her in the powder-house of the city, shut the door on her, and set the powder on fire. The ogress died. He came back to the fisherman. “Forward,” he said. They entered the city and established themselves there. One day Si Mahomet fell ill and died The two spouses put him in a coffin lined with silk and buried him. My story is told.
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Dreamtime Whispers 